Capita

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions Capita Group plc tendered for contracts let by his Department in each of the last five years; how many such tenders were successful; how much his Department paid to Capita Group plc for the execution of contracts in each such year; how many contracts which terminate after 2010 Capita Group plc hold with his Department; and what the monetary value is of all outstanding contracts between his Department and Capita Group plc.

Si�n Simon: The Capita Group plc have tendered for contracts let by the Department in the last five years as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2008-09 1 
			 2007-08 2 
			 2006-07 0 
			 2005-06 1 
			 2004-05 3 
		
	
	Two of these tenders were successful, both in 2007-08. These were to carry out an executive search role to appoint the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Sport England and to provide the Department with a flight travel booking service.
	Capita were paid 29,250 for the executive search contract in 2007-08. For the flight travel booking service the following has been paid:
	2007-08: 31,234
	2008-09: 127,235
	Neither of these contracts will terminate after 2010.
	There is no outstanding amount with reference to the executive search contract, while the flight travel booking service does not have an outstanding monetary value associated as this will be dependent upon the number of flights booked within the remaining term of the contract.

Christmas

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agency has spent on Christmas (i) cards, (ii) parties and (iii) decorations in the last 12-months.

Si�n Simon: My Department (i) produced an e-card using internal services, (ii) used no official funds for departmental Christmas parties and (iii) spent 559.44 on undressed Christmas trees (decorations were reused from previous years) for Christmas 2008.
	The Royal Parks (i) spent 200 on Christmas e-cards, (ii) had their staff Christmas party paid for by The Royal Parks directors and (iii) spent no money on decorations in the last 12-months.

Departmental Pay

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many  (a) year end and  (b) in year bonuses were paid to officials in his Department in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08; how many in year bonuses were paid in 2008-09; and how much was paid out in bonuses in each year.

Si�n Simon: The Department makes non-consolidated performance payments to its employees for two purposes:  (a ) year end non-consolidated performance payments to reward highly successful performance over a whole year; and  (b ) in year non-consolidated performance payments to reward outstanding contributions in particularly demanding tasks or situations. These figures cover all civil servants on standard terms. They are exclusive of two key senior staff in the Government Olympic Executive, who were appointed on non-standard terms with fixed term contracts ending in 2012 and whose remuneration reflects extensive relevant experience and the unique challenge of delivering the Olympics to a fixed deadline. Details of their remuneration were published in the departmental annual reports and accounts 2009. The data are set out in the table.
	
		
			   Number of year end non-consolidated performance payments  Number of in year non-consolidated performance payments  Total amount paid out () 
			 2008-09 219 178 517,167 
			 2007-08 235 144 520,713 
			 2006-07 149 96 392,114

Departmental Taxis

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many miles  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have travelled by taxi in the course of their official duties in each year since 1997; and at what cost to the public purse in each such year.

Si�n Simon: All official travel is undertaken in accordance with rules set out in the Department's staff guide under Travel and Subsistence and is consistent with the civil service management code. Travel by Ministers is in respect of their ministerial duties and complies with guidance set out in the Ministerial Code.
	The Department's records relating to expenditure and mileage on taxis are not analysed by the categories requested and to provide this would incur disproportionate cost.
	As part of monitoring the Department's carbon emissions, the Department's supplier has provided the overall mileage incurred for pre-booked taxis since 2006-07. These details are set out in the following table. Records for earlier years and for hailed taxis are not available.
	The total expenditure incurred by the Department on taxis since 1998-99, the earliest year for which information is readily available, is also set out in the table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Amount ()  Mileage (pre-booked taxis only) 
			 2008-09 32,179 7,276 
			 2007-08 36,359 9,287 
			 2006-07 38,421 6,002 
			 2005-06 21,759 - 
			 2004-05 22,157 - 
			 2003-04 21,878 - 
			 2002-03 16,109 - 
			 2001-02 20,812 - 
			 2000-01 26,415 - 
			 1999-2000 21,686 - 
			 1998-99 15,891 - 
		
	
	These figures represent expenditure on taxis and black cabs but exclude expenditure in respect of ministerial car service provided by The Government Car and Despatch Agency. In addition, some expenditure on taxis and black cabs included under general travel and subsistence account cannot be separately identified except at disproportionate cost.

Gambling: Addiction

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of problem gamblers requiring specialist treatment; and what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of voluntary contributions from the gambling industry for the treatment of problem gambling.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The British Gambling Prevalence Survey (BGPS) 2007 estimated that 0.6 per cent. of the adult population are categorised as problem gamblers, however the Department does not hold data on the number of problem gamblers requiring specialist treatment.
	The gambling industry has agreed to provide a minimum of 5 million each year over three years to fund the research, education and treatment of problem gambling. The Department continues to monitor progress against the agreed funding targets.

Armed Forces: Cadets

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what funding will be disbursed to the army cadet programme in  (a) 2009,  (b) 2010 and  (c) 2011;
	(2)  whether he plans further to reduce the budget of the army cadet programme;
	(3)  what his most recent assessment is of the likely effects on recruitment to the army cadet programme of reductions in its budget.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 23 November 2009
	The funding disbursed to the army cadet programme in 2009 was 42.46 million. In-year savings have reduced this amount by 4 million.
	Planning is under way across the Army for next and future financial years but it is too early to say what the outcome of this will be.
	We are extremely grateful to the adult cadet instructors for their commitment and dedication. As a result of their leadership, the vast majority of cadet detachments are riding out the temporary difficulties caused by the reduction in the Army Cadet Force budget this year.

Departmental Internet

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of maintaining his Department's website in the 2008-09 financial year; and what the forecast cost is of maintaining websites within his responsibility in the 2009-10 financial year.

Bill Rammell: The Ministry of Defence and armed forces collectively maintain four corporate websites. Identified direct expenditure on running these in the financial year 2008-09 was as detailed in the following table. This analysis complies with the guidance issued by COI on the methodology for identifying website costs in response to a Public Accounts Committee recommendation(1).
	(1) Public Account Committee Sixteenth Report;
	http://www.publications.parliament.Uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmpubacc/143/l4302.htm
	
		
			  Website  URL  FY 2008-09 ()  FY 2009-10( 1)  () 
			 MOD Corporate Website www.mod.uk 464,853 485,305(2) 
			 Royal Navy www.royalnavy.mod.uk 283,000 283,000 
			 British Army www.army.mod.uk 501,814 n/a(3) 
			 Royal Air Force www.raf.mod.uk 425,241 423,663 
			 (1) Forecast costs for 2009-10 are based on the best available information. (2) Excludes some external support costs which cannot be separated out from costs incurred in support of the internal Defence Intranet. (3) Projected costs for FY 2009-10 are not available as the rationalisation of Army websites is in the scoping phase and costs are being defined. It is likely to be in the region of 1.35 million. 
		
	
	A number of other websites are run by different parts of the Ministry of Defence, but these are not managed centrally. This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Russia: Politics and Government

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had recent discussions with the Russian government on  (a) the rule of law,  (b) property rights,  (c) human rights and  (d) political stability in the Russian Federation; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary had detailed and wide ranging discussions with Foreign Minister Lavrov when he visited Moscow from 1 to 3 November 2009. Topics included our concerns about human rights and the rule of law. The Foreign Secretary stressed both the importance of effective investigations into attacks on human rights defenders and journalists, including in the North Caucasus, and the importance of the rule of law in protecting property rights and safeguarding investments. The Foreign Secretary also met non-governmental organisations and civil society in Moscow, when he listened to their concerns and reasserted that the UK will continue raising human rights concerns as part of a comprehensive dialogue with the Russian authorities. I followed up these discussions during my recent meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Karasin.
	Human rights and the progress of Russian democracy are high on the agenda and we do not shy away from making our concerns known. We support President Medvedev's ambition to improve the rule of law in Russia, as an important way of protecting human rights and reducing corruption. We want to see democracy in Russia deliver political pluralism and all its associated freedoms. We believe that an open and democratic Russia will provide better opportunities for the Russian people and consolidate Russia as a stable and reliable international partner for the global community.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office spent 1.5 million supporting local human rights projects in Russia in 2008-09. These included promoting media freedom and journalists' safety, particularly in the North Caucasus, preventing interethnic conflict and working with the families of conflict victims to improve access to justice through the European Court of Human Rights.

Sickle Cell Diseases

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on raising the level of public awareness of sickle cell disorders in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: The Department has funded the NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening programme to develop materials for public information (including information on screening, carrier status and a parents' handbook on children with sickle cell disease) and to undertake a number of public outreach projects in areas where there is a high proportion of black and minority ethnic populations who may have difficulties accessing healthcare services. For the four years, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09, the programme spent a total of more than 2 million. No figures before this are available.
	In addition, the Department awarded the Sickle Cell Society a Section 64 grant of 20,000 over two years (2003-04 and 2004-05) for health education. A Third Sector Investment programme project grant of some 258,000 has recently been awarded to the Sickle Cell Society for three years (2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12) for a named National Support Care Advisor for sickle cell disorders.

Aid Projects: Gaza

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much and what proportion of Government funding available for humanitarian assistance to Gaza in the last three years has been disbursed to aid projects in that area.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development responded swiftly to the humanitarian crisis following Operation Cast Lead, pledging 26.8 million for immediate humanitarian aid and early recovery activities. Of this, 18.3 million has already been spent. Prior to the conflict, we had given the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 3 million to meet immediate humanitarian needs in Gaza-1 million in 2007 and 2 million in 2008.

South Waziristan

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department has provided to those displaced by recent violence in South Waziristan.

Michael Foster: We have made available 2 million to help meet immediate needs of those newly displaced by conflict in South Waziristan. Funds are being used by NGOs to support shelter, water, sanitation and medical services. This new funding commitment brings the UK contribution for the displaced in North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to 34 million. We will continue to monitor the situation carefully and stand ready to provide further support.

Departmental Pay

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has allocated for  (a) year end and  (b) in-year bonuses in 2009-10.

Douglas Alexander: The salary budget for 2009-10 is 104 million of which non-consolidated performance payments represented an estimated 1.27 per cent.(1)
	Awards are intended to reward delivery of personal business objectives during the reporting year or other short term personal contributions to wider organisational objectives and values.
	Awards are funding within existing pay bill controls, have to be re-earned each year against the predetermined criteria above and as such do not add to future pay bill costs.
	(1 )Payments made are for the financial year indicated but relate to performance achieved in the previous reporting year.

Developing Countries: Disabled

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to include children with disabilities in the programme established to achieve the Millennium Development Goal on schooling;
	(2)  whether he expects the Millennium Development Goal on schooling to be achieved in circumstances in which specific provision to meet the needs of children with disabilities is not made in the programme of work towards achievement of that goal.

Michael Foster: The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) cannot be achieved without addressing the specific needs and rights of people with disabilities. All children, including those with disabilities must have equal access to a good quality basic education. It is estimated that 90 per cent. of children with disabilities in developing countries are out of school.
	The UK is spending 8.5 billion over the period 2006-07-2015-16 in support of education in developing countries. Alongside funding from other donors, these resources are used to support governments to ensure all children have access to basic education-including the children with disabilities. DFID is the second largest donor (202 million) to the global financing partnership for education, the Education for All- Fast Track Initiative (FTI). We use our support to the FTI to leverage greater attention from partner governments to the needs of the most excluded children. DFID also directly supports Disability Partner Organisations (DPOs) in countries where we work to advocate for the rights for adults and children with disabilities. This is in recognition that social stigma and discrimination remain the main barriers for children with disabilities to attend school.
	DFID's new education strategy will be launched early next year and will set out how we propose to implement our commitment to basic education for all children including those with disabilities.

Departmental Official Cars

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of providing official cars for the use of  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in the last 12 months.

Paul Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made on 16 July 2009,  Official Report, columns 79-80WS about the contracted cost of ministerial cars in 2008-09. The cost of providing official cars for senior officials for the same period is as follows:
	
		
			  Department  2008-09 charge () 
			 BERR 71,600 
			 Cabinet Office 132,000 
			 DECC 34,600 
			 DCSF 69,300 
			 DFID 67,300 
			 DFT 71,400 
			 DWP 26,100 
			 Health 144,000 
			 Home Office 65,900 
			 HMIC 128,000 
			 HMT 67,100 
			 OST 66,900

Electric Vehicles

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department spent on electric car charging points in the last five years.

Sadiq Khan: On 19 November 2009 the Secretary of State for Transport launched the Plugged in Places scheme which is making available up to 30 million to support a small number of lead cities and regions in rolling out electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Bids for this funding are due to be received next year.
	In addition, the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Grant Programme (AFIGP) launched in 2005 has to date delivered 82 charging points with Government support totalling 172,347. On 19 November 2009, the Department for Transport announced the next tranche of funding through this programme and that a further 72 charge points are due for completion by spring 2010 with Government support of 228,500.

London Airports

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer of 9 November 2009,  Official Report, column 49W, if he will publish the submission to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State setting out  (a) the (i) reasons and (ii) justifications for not providing the information requested in question 298409 and  (b) the estimated cost of providing the information requested, as required in accordance with section 7.28 of the Cabinet Office's Guide to Parliamentary Work.

Paul Clark: The request in question 298409 was about representations received from hon. and right hon. Members of each party in favour of  (a) a third runway at Heathrow airport, (b) a second runway at Gatwick airport,  (c) further expansion of Stansted airport and  (d) a new airport in the Thames estuary. No time period was specified. As my 9 November answer explained, no such records are held centrally. To seek to obtain the information would therefore require an exhaustive search of both electronic and paper records across the Department for Transport at least as far back as 2002 when options for airport development were consulted upon. Such an exercise would well exceed the 750 threshold in Cabinet Office guidance for written questions.

Motorways: Repairs and Maintenance

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate the Highways Agency has made of the cost per mile of resurfacing concrete motorways with low noise tarmac surfaces.

Chris Mole: holding answer 30 November 2009
	The estimated cost per mile of resurfacing each lane of concrete pavement on a motorway using quieter surfacing materials ranges between 200,000 and 1,900,000 at today's prices. Accurate cost estimates can only be obtained once a schemes detailed design has been undertaken, as this will depend on the type of treatment required and associated site specific requirements. The higher costs would only be incurred where roads constructed to old design standards (i.e. before 1987) were resurfaced, so these are becoming increasingly rare.

Departmental Internet

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost was of maintaining his Department's website in the 2008-09 financial year; and what the forecast cost is of maintaining websites within his responsibility in the 2009-10 financial year.

Peter Hain: The cost of hosting and maintaining the Wales Office website in 2008-09 was 6,054.55, the forecast spend on this for the current financial year is 7,976. The costs in 2008-09 were lower as the first three months had been paid on set up of the new website in January 2008.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Peter Hain: Wales Office press officers are appointed to work in both London and Cardiff offices, and elsewhere with Ministers, as required. They will be reimbursed for travelling and subsistence expenses incurred in their duties. The sums paid in each of the last two years were:
	
		
			
			 2006-07 1,931.44 
			 2007-08 3,481.51 
		
	
	Additionally, depending where they are based on appointment, their terms and conditions may include civil service detached duty allowances to reflect costs incurred in living away from home.

Departmental Taxis

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many miles  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department travelled by taxi in the course of their official duties in each year since 1997; and at what cost to the public purse in each such year.

Peter Hain: The information is as follows:
	 (a) and  (b). This information is not held centrally.
	My Department has spent the following amounts on taxis:
	
		
			
			 2002-03 1,266 
			 2003-04 1,154 
			 2004-05 625 
			 2005-06 2,321 
			 2006-07 2,194 
			 2007-08 3,424.16 
			 2008-09 5,505.10

Members: Allowances

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Leader of the House how much Sir Thomas Legg's work on hon. Members' expenses is expected to cost.

Barbara Keeley: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer provided to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 22 October 2009,  Official R eport, column 1630W:
	'The review is expected to cost approximately 1.1 million.'

Housing Benefit

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in each tenure group were in receipt of  (a) housing benefit and  (b) council tax benefit in May (i) 2001, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2009; and what the annualised cost was of each benefit at those dates.

Helen Goodman: Information on council tax benefit is not available broken down by tenure type. The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of housing benefit and council tax benefit recipients in Great Britain by tenure: May 2001 and May 2005 
			   Housing benefit (HB)  Council tax benefit 
			   Total HB  Social rented  Private rented  Other  All council tax benefit 
			 2001 3,874,400 3,131,140 743,260 - 4,673,370 
			 2005 3,956,820 3,165,890 790,930 - 4,959,690 
			  Notes: 1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest ten. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 4. Housing Benefit figures exclude any Extended Payment cases. 5. Council Tax Benefit figures exclude Second Adult Rebates. 6. - represents nil or negligible.  Source:  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System quarterly 100 per cent. and taken in May 2001 and May 2005. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of housing benefit and council tax benefit recipients in Great Britain by tenure: May 2009 
			   Total HB  Social rented  Private rented  Other  Council tax benefit 
			 2009 4,412,990 3,186,400 1,221,420 5,170 5,444,060 
			  Notes: 1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest ten. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 4. Housing Benefit figures exclude any Extended Payment cases. 5. Council Tax Benefit figures exclude Second Adult Rebates.  Source:  Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) taken in May 2009. 
		
	
	
		
			  Expenditure on housing benefit by tenancy type, and council tax benefit, cash terms 
			   millions 
			   2001-02  2005-06  2009-10 forecast 
			 Local authority 5,282 5,263 5,816 
			 Registered social landlord 3,486 4,959 7,588 
			 Private renter 2,827 3,723 6,248 
			 Total housing benefit 11,596 13,945 19,652 
			 Council tax benefit 2,686 3,774 4,648 
		
	
	
		
			  Expenditure on housing benefit, split by tenancy type, and council tax benefit real terms, 2009-10 prices 
			   millions 
			   2001-02  2005-06  2009-10 forecast 
			 Local authority 6,424 5,753 5,816 
			 Registered social landlord 4,239 5,421 7,588 
			 Private renter 3,438 4,070 6,248 
			 Total housing benefit 14,101 15,245 19,652 
			 Council tax benefit 3,266 4,126 4,648 
			  Notes: 1. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit expenditure are only available for full financial years. 2. Figures for 2009-10 are Budget 2009 forecasts. 3. Figures include all expenditure, whether funded by central or local Government. Housing Benefit expenditure includes Discretionary Housing Payments. 4. Updated forecasts, and actual expenditure for 2008-09 will be published following the 2009 pre-Budget report. 5. Real terms figures are in 2009-10 prices, and derived using the Budget 2009 GDP deflator. 6. Historic and forecast expenditure for housing benefit and council tax benefit can be found on the internet at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/medium_term.asp  Source:  Local Authority Subsidy returns and Budget 2009 forecasts.

Departmental Assets

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assets of his Department are planned to be sold in each year from 2009-10 to 2013-14; what the  (a) description and  (b) book value of each such asset is; what the expected revenue from each such sale is; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: No asset disposals are planned by the Department in either 2009-10 or 2010-11, the last years of the current spending review period. The Government have stated its intention to realise 16 billion in asset disposals over the period 2011-14 and will publish further details of opportunities to commercialise business assets in the coming weeks.

Fire Service College: Public Relations

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what payments the Fire Service College has made to Four Communications in the last 12 months; for what purposes; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the contracts under which such payments have been made.

Shahid Malik: The Fire Service College has paid 12,044.36 including VAT to Four Communications in the last 12-months to provide specialist communications advice.
	Payments have been made under the College's standard purchase terms and conditions, copies of which will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Fire Services: Floods

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what contingency funding are available to fire and rescue services for the provision of  (a) rescue and flood response services,  (b) equipment and  (c) staff training in respect of flooding.

Shahid Malik: At the national level, the Department has provided the fire and rescue service with 46 high volume pumps and funding for training. The high volume pumps have been used to great effect during floods.
	At the local level, fire and rescue authorities are able to use their local discretion in equipping themselves with the appropriate capabilities to meet the risks, such as flooding, identified through their local risk assessment processes, using the flexible funding arrangements of the revenue support grant.
	The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has made up to 2 million available to March 2011 to carry out the Flood Rescue National Enhancement Project, which aims to enhance current flood rescue capability. A strategy for how this money will be best used is being developed, and organisations, including the fire and rescue service, could potentially receive some future funding.

Fires: Elderly

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what recent assessment has been made of the vulnerability of older people to domestic fires; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has to reduce the number of deaths of older people caused by fires in domestic dwellings.

Shahid Malik: The Government are committed to reducing all fire deaths and uses research and statistics to inform more effective targeting of fire safety messages. We are aware of the potential vulnerability of older people to domestic fire. The latest fire statistics (2007) show that over 50 per cent. of the fatalities in accidental dwelling fires were aged over 65.
	Independent research, published in 2006, highlighted five key groups who were more vulnerable to fire and harder to reach with crucial messages, one of whom was older people. The Government's Fire Kills campaign seeks to reduce fire deaths in older age groups through specifically targeting its television advertising at programmes that older people are likely to watch. The campaign recognises the importance of partnership working. We are pursuing a range opportunities with Help The Aged/Age Concern, the main suppliers of oxygen to hospital out-patients, and Bowls England, as a means to deliver fire safety messages to older people through their trusted communication channels.
	Between 2004 and 2008, Government provided pump-priming funding of 25 million to fire and rescue services to deliver a programme of home fire risk checks. Firefighters target this free service to vulnerable groups in their communities, including older people and provide tailored fire safety advice and, where necessary, install free smoke alarms. Fire and rescue services continue to deliver this programme and funding is now available through the Revenue Support Grant Block Grant.

Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much grant his Department has allocated to  (a) the Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government and  (b) the Leadership Centre for Local Government in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11.

Barbara Follett: The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) received the following amounts of core funding from my Department for 2008-09 and 2009-10.
	
		
			million 
			 2008-09 28.73 
			 2009-10 32.67 
		
	
	As part of this the Leadership Centre for Local Government has received 2 million in each year.
	Allocations for 2010-11 have not yet been agreed and are currently out for consultation.

Local Government Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the shortfall in local authority funding following recovery operations after the floods of summer 2007; and whether he plans to make up the shortfall from central Government funds.

Rosie Winterton: As at June 2008, it was estimated that local authorities had spent 224 million on the response to and recovery from the summer 2007 floods. This total includes insurable costs.
	Government made available a comprehensive package of over 136 million to assist the affected regions and help those in greatest need, including funding for schools, transport and businesses.
	The Bellwin scheme was activated nationwide, for all authorities affected by the June and July 2007 floods. The schemes announced by the Prime Minister were among the most generous ever-with an extension of the period for which local authorities are eligible to claim-from two months to six months and an increase in the proportion of costs local authorities could claim to 100 per cent. (instead of the usual 85 per cent.), once they spent above their usual threshold (0.2 per cent. of their revenue budget). Around 19 million was paid out through this scheme.
	In addition, we exceptionally made available Flood Recovery Grant of 18.4 million to support the work of the hardest hit local authorities in helping these people in their communities in greatest need and, in July 2008, 30.6 million was allocated under the Restoration Fund to support their continued efforts to rebuild their communities. The Department for Children, Schools and Families also made 13.5 million available for schools and children's services affected by the floods.
	Local authorities are expected to meet some of the costs of flooding by claiming on their insurance policies, reprioritising their budgets, and using their reserves, if necessary. Every local authority is required to maintain reserves, one of the main purposes of which is to meet unexpected costs.

Local Government Finance: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the London local government finance settlement for the London Borough of Bexley  (a) was in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07, (iii) 2007-08 and (iv) 2008-09 and  (b) is for (A) 2009-10 and (B) 2010-11.

Barbara Follett: The following table shows the amount for formula grant, which is made up of Revenue Support Grant and redistributed business rates for non-police authorities, for the period requested.
	
		
			   Prior years adjusted formula grant( 1)  ( million)  Current year's formula grant ( million)  Change ( million)  Percentage change 
			  Amended 2005-06: 173.518 182.531 9.013 5.2 
			 2006-07(2) 56.490 57.671 1.181 2.1 
			 2007-08 57.182 58.726 1.544 2.7 
			 2008-09 62.365 63.612 1.247 2.0 
			 2009-10 63.538 64.650 1.112 1.75 
			  Provisional 2010-11 64.621 65.591 0.969 1.5 
			 (1) The prior year's formula grant is adjusted for changes in function and funding to enable a like-for-like comparison. (2) Prior to 2006-07 support for schools was paid through formula grant. In 2006-07 funding for schools transferred to the Dedicated Schools Grant.

Non-Domestic Rates

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was billed to businesses in each region for national non-domestic rates in 2008-09; and what estimate he has made of the equivalent figures in 2009-10.

Barbara Follett: The net amount of non-domestic rates that should have been collected in 2008-09 after reliefs, in each region in England, are given in the following table.
	Data for 2009-10 are not yet available.
	
		
			  Estimated net collectable debit in respect of 2008-09  non-domestic rates 
			   000 
			 North East 724,119 
			 North West 2,287,952 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,647,167 
			 East Midlands(1) 1,368,470 
			 West Midlands 1,806,357 
			 East of England 1,965,847 
			 London 5,057,209 
			 South East 3,102,642 
			 SouthWest(1) 1,545,321 
			 Total England 19,505,084 
			 (1) Data for Harborough and Isle of Stilly are estimated as their QRC4 returns were not received in time for inclusion in the statistical release.  Source:  QRC4 Quarterly Return of Council Tax and Non-domestic rates 2008-09. 
		
	
	These data are also available in Table 3 of the statistical release collection rates for council tax and non-domestic rates in England 2008-09 that was published on 25 June 2009 and is available on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localregional/localgovernmentfinance/statistics/counciltax/collectionrates

Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what payments the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation has made to Connect Public Affairs in the last 12 months; for what purpose; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the contracts under which such payments have been made.

Shahid Malik: In the last 12 months, the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation has paid 45,102 in professional fees to Connect Public Affairs in support of their communications strategy, stakeholder engagement and production of allied events. The contract between the corporation and Connect Public Affairs is commercially confidential.

Prisons: Operating Costs

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the estimated capital cost is of building each of the 1,500 place prisons his Department has proposed as an alternative to Titan prisons.

Jack Straw: It is estimated that the capital cost of constructing five 1,500 place prisons at 2008-09 prices is around 1.2 billion, excluding VAT and site purchase costs.

Departmental Internet

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of maintaining his Department's website in the 2008-09 financial year; and what the forecast cost is of maintaining websites within his responsibility in the 2009-10 financial year.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The costs of maintaining the Departmental website are as follows:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk
	
		
			  Financial year  Maintenance costs () 
			 2008-09 168,549 
		
	
	Maintenance costs include direct costs, for example web hosting, support, and infrastructure.
	The forecast cost for maintaining websites within the Chancellor of the Exchequer's responsibility in the 2009-10 financial year are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Website  Forecast costs () 
			 2009-10 http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk 185,193 
			 2009-10 http://www.isb.gov.uk 0 
			 2009-10 http://www.gfp.gov.uk 0 
			 2009-10 http://www.ogc.gov.uk 216,277 
			 2009-10 http://www.dmo.gov.uk 47,000 
		
	
	These figures do not include any redevelopment costs associated with the web sites in question.
	Under the Transformational Government strategy to rationalise websites the ISB website is being integrated into the HM Treasury site, therefore no costs are associated with this site. The GFP website is supported by sponsorship therefore there is no cost to HM Treasury.

Departmental Lost Property

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) laptop computers,  (b) mobile telephones,  (c) items of office furniture and  (d) works of art have been (i) lost by and (ii) stolen from his Department in each of the last three year; whether his Department has made an insurance claim on each such item; and what the estimated value of each such item was.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: In respect of the numbers of  (a) laptop computers and  (b) mobile telephones lost by and stolen from his Department, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member Putney (Justine Greening) on 12 October 2009,  Official Report, column 250W.
	No  (c) items of office furniture and  (d) works of art have been lost by, or stolen from, the Department in the last three years.
	In accordance with value for money guidance to all central government organisations, HM Treasury does not take out commercial insurance against these risk.
	The estimated value of each laptop is 600 and of each mobile telephone is 50.

Departmental Taxis

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many miles  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have travelled by taxi in the course of their official duties in each year since 1997; and at what cost to the public purse in each such year.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information requested on mileage could not be provided within the disproportionate costs threshold. Spending on taxis/private hire in 2008-09 was 219,000 and in 2007-08 216,000. For information on spending in earlier years I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the former Exchequer Secretary (Angela Eagle) on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1922W to the hon. Member for Hertford  Stortford (Mr. Prisk).

Taxation

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue which will be raised by the changes to tax reliefs announced in the written ministerial statement of 21 October 2009,  Official Report, column 57WS, on anti-avoidance.

Stephen Timms: The written ministerial statement of 21 October 2009,  Official Report, column 57WS, announced changes to legislation to counter four tax avoidance schemes with immediate effect. The Government estimate that closing these schemes down will yield 300 million by 2012-13, while also protecting over 1 billion of revenue.

Manufacturing Industries

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what assistance the Government has provided to the manufacturing sector in  (a) the UK and  (b) the West Midlands in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the size of contraction in the manufacturing sector since the start of the recession in  (a) the UK and  (b) the West Midlands.

Ian Lucas: The Manufacturing Strategy launched in September 2008 brings together over 150 million support for a range of policy measures that address key issues impacting on competitiveness such as skills, design, technology, global value chains and the move to a low carbon economy. Work is also well under way to complete a new purpose-built Manufacturing Technology Centre at Ansty, near Coventry, which will provide industrial-scale demonstration facilities to help industry develop new manufacturing capabilities.
	The Advanced Manufacturing package of measures announced in July 2009 provides more than 150 million from the Strategic Investment Fund to support the development of high tech manufacturing that will enable UK manufacturers to take advantage of new market opportunities.
	Over the last 12 months, the Government have also launched the Real Help for Business package, and the Vehicle Scrappage Scheme where more than a quarter of a million orders for new vehicles have been placed, 9 per cent. of which were in the West Midlands.
	The recently expanded Manufacturing Advisory Service has conducted 31,000 manufacturing reviews and supported more than 11,000 implementation projects worth nearly 700 million value added. Support in the West Midlands over the past year was worth 7.5 million.
	In addition, Advantage West Midlands has provided assistance worth just over 54 million to manufacturers in the West Midlands over the last 12 months, including a 3.5 million boost for the automotive supply chain announced in July.
	Based on ONS' latest Index of Production (IOP) data, manufacturing output in the UK declined 15.3 per cent. from peak to trough (February 2008 to August 2009), however there is no comparable data for manufacturing output in the West Midlands over the same time period.
	In the UK, during the three months to June 2008 there were 2.87 million employee jobs in the manufacturing industry, while in the three months to June 2009 there were 2.64 million, a fall of 7.9 per cent. This compares to the West Midlands where there were 322,000 employee jobs in the manufacturing industry in the three months to June 2008, while in the three months to June 2009 there were 284,000, a fall of 11.8 per cent.

Research: Government Assistance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding the Government has provided for research and development in the last 12 months.

David Lammy: In 2007, Government (including Higher Education Funding Councils and Research Councils) funded 7.7 billion (30 per cent. of all) R and D performed in the UK.
	 Source:
	Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Climate Change: Research

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 14 October 2009,  Official Report, columns 990-91W, on climate change: research, how much his Department has spent on modelling work into the environmental consequences of  (a) injecting sulphate aerosols into the stratosphere,  (b) encouraging low level cloud development to increase regional reflectivity and  (c) other forms of geo-engineering.

Joan Ruddock: The amount of funding that the Department of Energy and Climate Change has spent on modelling work into the environmental consequences of different types of geo-engineering is:
	 (a) injecting sulphate aerosols into the stratosphere: 80,000;
	 (b) encouraging low level cloud development to increase regional reflectivity: 60,000; and
	 (c) other forms of geo-engineering: 15,000.

Electricity Generation: Costs

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his most recent estimate is of the average cost of generating 1 MW of electricity by each different generating technology.

David Kidney: The Government have carried out analysis on generation costs in recent years to inform policy decisions. Some of these estimates were published as part of the Energy Review (2006) at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file32014.pdf
	More recently the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) have published estimated levelised costs (/MWh, in 2008 prices) associated with 1 MWh of electricity generated, for their December 2008 report at:
	http://www.theccc.org.uk/pdf/TSO-ClimateChange.pdf,
	as set out in table 1 and include construction, operation and maintenance costs and where applicable the cost of carbon allowances (EU ETS). Moreover, for nuclear, they also include the costs of decommissioning and waste.
	It should be noted that the estimates of levelised costs for different types of electricity generation are highly sensitive to the assumptions used for capital costs, fuel and EU ETS allowance prices, operating costs, load factor, and other drivers. In reality, there are large uncertainties and ranges around these figures.
	
		
			  Technology  Levelised cost (/MWh) 2010 
			  Wind plant  
			 Onshore wind (high wind) 65 
			 Offshore wind (high wind) 83 
			  Coal-fired plant  
			 Coal-central fuel 54 
			  Gas-fired plant  
			 CCGT-central fuel 53 
			  Nuclear plant  
			 Nuclear 51 
			  Source:  The Committee on Climate Change (2008) 'Building a low-carbon economy' p189. 
		
	
	The costs of most generation technologies have increased over the past 18 months, primarily due to increases in input prices. Work is on-going to update Government's cost assumptions for different forms of generation.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much has been allocated to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme in  (a) 2009-10,  (b) 2010-11,  (c) 2011-12,  (d) 2012-13 and  (e) 2013-14; and (i) what proportion of funding will be for England, (ii) what carbon dioxide emissions reduction is expected to be achieved, (iii) how many properties will be affected and (iv) how many jobs will be created in each of those years.

Joan Ruddock: holding reply 24 November 2009
	 As at September 2009 the amount of funding allocated to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme in  (a) 2009-10,  (b) 2010-11,  (c) 2011-12,  (d) 2012-13 and  (e) 2013-14 is as shown:
	 Note:
	The LCBP programmes (phase-1 and phase-2) are due to close on 31 March 2011.
	 Allocation  of f unding
	In Budget 2009, an additional 45 million was allocated to the LCBP programme which was allocated as follows:
	
		
			   
			   2009-10  2010-11  2011-12  Total 
			 LCBP-1 (Householders) 1,000,000 5,000,000 0 6,000,000 
			 LCBP-2 (Communities and other not-for-profit etc.) 29,000,000 10,000,000 0 39,000,000 
			 Total 30,000,000 15,000,000 0 45,000,000 
		
	
	 The geographical division of funding
	There is no prescriptive allocation of funding within the programmes for regions or nations as the programmes allocates funding on a first-come-first-served basis. However, using historical information, we estimate that the approximate 'split' of where funding will be made is as follows:
	
		
			   2009-10 ()  2010-11 ()  Total ()  Percentage 
			 England 25,800,000 12,900,000 38,700,000 86 
			 Northern Ireland 600,000 300,000 900,000 2 
			 Scotland 1,500,000 750,000 2,250,000 5 
			 Wales 2,100,000 1,050,000 3,150,000 7 
			 Total 30,000,000 15,000,000 45,000,000 100 
		
	
	 Number of installations
	Based on an estimate of 60 per cent. in 2009-10 and 40 per cent. in 2010-11 to account for the introduction (and therefore closure of the programmes to electrical microgeneration on 31 March 2010) of green energy cash-backs (FITs), our forecast for the number of installations is as follows:
	
		
			   Number  
			  Installations  2009-10  2010-11  Total  Percentage 
			 England 6,703 4,469 11,172 91 
			 Northern Ireland 0 0 0 0 
			 Scotland 139 92 231 2 
			 Wales 553 369 922 7 
			 Total 7395 4930 12,325 100 
		
	
	We are unable to make a forecast with regards to Northern Ireland as they are currently undergoing public consultation on their own legislation for a 'FIT's equivalent'. We will revise these figures when the outcome in published.
	 Carbon dioxide emission reduction
	It is not possible to give accurate estimates of the anticipated carbon savings attributable to installations in 2009 through to 2011 as this is dependent on the size, efficiency and type of equipment to be specified in future applications, however, since inception of the programmes in early 2007, we estimate that the savings from installed equipment to date is as follows:
	
		
			   Estimated Carbon units (per annum)  Estimated Carbon units (lifetime)  Number of completed installations 
			 LCBP-1 (Householders) 2,555 61,825 8,480 
			 LCBP-2 (Communities, not-for profit etc.) 10,240 224,259 2,845 
			 Total 12,795 286,084 11,325 
		
	
	With an estimate of 12,325 installations in FY 2009-10 to FY 2010-11, we would anticipate approximately doubling the above savings.
	 Green jobs
	The Department does not hold information on the number of people employed in the microgeneration industry.
	The additional 45 million funding that was allocated to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme in the recent Budget will create jobs and move the microgeneration industry supply chain to a position where it can contribute to achieving the challenging 2020 renewable targets. Our Renewable Energy Strategy consultation estimated that renewable energy could generate 160,000 jobs by 2020, both in the UK and abroad. Since the consultation, research commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) suggests that the size of the renewable energy sector and of the broader low-carbon and environmental goods and services economy, has been substantially underestimated. Based on the research projections and Labour Force Survey data, we estimate that this strategy, combined with a growing market for renewable energy across Europe and globally, could increase UK employment in the renewable energy sector by up to 500,000 people by 2020. (These projections use a broad definition of the sector and are subject to considerable uncertainty).

Children: Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what provisions exist for the punishment of parents in respect of breaches of anti-social behaviour orders by their children.

Alan Campbell: I have been asked to reply.
	Plans to legislate for mandatory parenting orders when 10 to 15-year-olds breach their ASBO are contained in the Crime and Security Bill. Parenting orders are court based orders that can be applied for by a range of different agencies in different circumstances. They are intended for parents who are unwilling to engage with voluntary measures. An order will specify requirements for the parent to comply with, for example, to counselling or guidance sessions for a period of up to three months. They may also have conditions imposed on them such as attending meetings with teachers at their child's school, ensuring their child does not visit a particular place unsupervised or ensuring their child is at home at particular times. These conditions can last for a period up to 12 months. A parent/carer can be prosecuted for failing to keep the requirements of the order. A parenting order is a civil order but breach of the order is an offence punishable by a fine of up to 1,000.

Ofsted: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the public purse of Ofsted in each year from 2005-06 to 2012-13; how much of the expenditure in each year  (a) has been and  (b) is to be spent on child protection; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated November 2009:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me; as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response. There is an element of work related to child protection in most areas of Ofsted's remit. It is not possible to analyse these costs separately.
	The cost to the public purse of Ofsted for the years 2005-06 to 2009-10 is detailed below:
	
		
			 million 
			 2005-06 Actual 219 
			 2006-07 Actual 215 
			 2007-08 Actual 213 
			 2008-09 Actual 208 
			 2009-10 Budget 200 
		
	
	Budgets for the years subsequent to 2009-10 have not yet been set.
	Please note that the cost for 2005-06 relates to the work of the former Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education. The costs for subsequent years are those for the new Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, with its expanded remit.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Vernon Coaker MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

Primary Education: Greater London

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when his Department plans to announce allocation of funding to primary schools in the London Boroughs of  (a) Richmond and  (b) Kingston upon Thames in respect of the September 2010 intake.

Vernon Coaker: We announced on 30 November 2009 the allocation of 271 million of capital funding for the provision of additional primary places by 2011, to 34 authorities including both Richmond upon Thames and Kingston upon Thames. Richmond is allocated 3.3 million and Kingston 8.2 million. This will enable these authorities to start projects to provide additional permanent places for 2010 and beyond. This allocation is in addition to over 1.2 billion allocated nationally from 2008-11, to support the provision of additional school places.
	It is the responsibility of local authorities to forecast and plan to provide school places where they are needed. The Government allocate capital funding to support their provision, based on local authority forecasts. However, we accept that in some areas there have recently been local demographic and other pressures which have made this unusually difficult. Therefore, in July, we invited all authorities which are experiencing exceptionally high and unpredicted increase in demand for additional primary school places to apply for additional funding.
	Initially, we secured 200 million for this need, but when evaluating applications, and from discussions with authorities and representative bodies, we concluded that a larger sum, and more flexibility in our eligibility and allocation criteria, would provide appropriate support to a wide range of the neediest authorities.
	The Department does not allocate revenue money directly to schools. Local authorities need to allocate budgets to schools for the 2010-11 financial year before the 31 March 2010.

Schools: Admissions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  which local authorities applied for targeted capital funds for surplus place removal following his Department's letter to Directors of Children's Services on 16 June 2008;
	(2)  which local authorities received targeted capital funds for surplus place removal since June 2008; how much each such local authority received for that purpose; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Seven authorities applied and all received an award.
	The amount awarded under the targeted capital funds for surplus place removal to authorities is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Local authority  Allocation () 
			 Derbyshire 475,000 
			 Hampshire 898,000 
			 Knowsley 3,825,000 
			 Suffolk 2,165,000 
			 Bristol 2,100,350 
			 Shropshire 562,320 
			 Lancashire 600,000 
			 Total 10,625,670

Schools: Construction

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what response he has received from North East Lincolnshire local authority in respect of his proposal to bring forward from 2010-11 to the current financial year capital funding for building schools; and what proportion of the available funding North East Lincolnshire local authority has taken up.

Vernon Coaker: North East Lincolnshire bid for, and are taking up, an advance of 775,000 Primary Programme funding from 2010-11 in the current financial year. If the local authority and Voluntary Aided schools had applied for the maximum available advances, they would have received advances of 5,378 for Primary Capital, 1,979 for Modernisation, and 212,000 in respect of Voluntary Aided schools.
	In common with all other authorities, all maintained schools in North East Lincolnshire were allocated a Devolved Formula Capital advance calculated as 40 per cent. of the estimated 2010-11 allocation. In the case of the local authority and Voluntary Aided schools, this amounted to 1,284.